Deliberation Workshops

Deliberation and Liberal Learning

A Seminar and Workshop Series

Deliberation and Liberal Learning was a multi-year series of lectures, seminars, workshops, and intellectual salons developed jointly by the Phi Beta Kappa Society and Colorado College. The first year's lectures were initiated by the Crown Faculty Center, with the aims of bringing faculty together and familiarizing them with the traditions out of which American liberal arts colleges emerged. Subsequent years were developed in partnership with Beta of Colorado.

Co-Sponsored by the Beta of Colorado Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and the Crown Faculty Center, these events would not have been possible without significant support at various points from the Phi Beta Society, the Teagle Foundation, the Office of the Dean, Educational Technology Services, and several departments and programs.

In response to the challenge of cultivating and engaging a diverse academic community, Beta of Colorado revived its Deliberation Workshop Series in 2015-16. Ana M. Martínez Alemán of the Lynch School of Education at Boston College led the first deliberation workshop in the new series on Friday, 4 March 2016, with discussion of issues raised in two of her recent articles, "Community, Higher Education, and the Challenge of Multiculturalism"and "Mission, Multiculturalism, and the Liberal Arts College: A Qualitative Investigation." On Friday, 20 February 2017, CC alumna Brooke Vicke, class of 1997 and now Associate Professor of Psychology at Whitman College, will lead a workshop on the theme of "The ‘R’ Word: Acknowledging Racism While Valuing Diversity." On Friday, 31 March 2017, Beta of Colorado will welcome José Medina, Professor of Philosophy at Villanova University, who will lead a workshop addressing the topic of "Pig Heads, Burning Crosses, and Car Keys: Challenges of Diversity Today."

Beta of Colorado hopes to schedule several additional follow-up events over the next few years. The new series is being made possible by strong support from the President and Dean of the College.